The 2008 Primera División Apertura is the first football tournament of the Mexican Primera División 2008−09 season. The tournament began in August 2008 and was contested by the league's 18 teams.
Reigning champion Santos Laguna failed to advance to the final losing 2-1 on a two-leg aggregate (0-0 in the first leg) to eventual champions Toluca in the semifinals, and were unable to defend their title. The team of Toluca would beat Cruz Azul 7-6 in penalties after tying 2-2 on a two-leg aggregate (2-0 in the first leg). This was Toluca's 9th championship, placing them as the third most successful club behind América and Guadalajara.
Clubs Club Home city Stadium CapacityAméricaMexico CityAzteca115,000AtlanteCancúnAndrés Quintana Roo20,000AtlasGuadalajaraJalisco72,600ChiapasTuxtla GutiérrezVíctor Manuel Reyna23,208Ciudad JuárezCiudad JuárezOlímpico Benito Juárez22,300Cruz AzulMexico CityAzul35,000GuadalajaraGuadalajaraJalisco72,600MonterreyMonterreyTecnológico38,000MoreliaMoreliaMorelos41,500NecaxaAguascalientesVictoria25,000PachucaPachucaHidalgo30,000PueblaPueblaCuauhtémoc42,649San LuisSan Luis PotosíAlfonso Lastras24,000SantosTorreónCorona18,050TolucaTolucaNemesio Díez27,000TecosGuadalajara3 de Marzo30,015UANLMonterreyUniversitario41,000UNAMMéxicoOlímpico Universitario83,700
Managerial changes This is a list of managerial changes made during the tournament. TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of departureIncoming managerDate hiredPosition in tableCiudad Juárez Sergio OrduñaSackedAug. 18, 2008 Héctor Hugo EuguiAug. 19, 200818thTecos José TrejoSackedSep. 1, 2008 Miguel HerreraSep. 2, 20088thAtlas Miguel BrindisiResignedSep. 4, 2008 Darío FrancoSep. 5, 200817thPuebla José SánchezSackedSep. 17, 2008 Mario CarrilloSep. 17, 200816thChiapas Sergio AlmaguerSackedOct. 1, 2008 Francisco AvilánOct. 1, 200818thNecaxa Salvador Reyes Jr.SackedOct. 13, 2008 Octavio Becerril Oct. 14, 200818th
Regular phase Standings
Group standings
Results
Final phase (Liguilla)
Notes If the two teams are tied after both legs, the higher seeded team advances. Both finalist qualify to the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League. The champion qualifies directly to the Group Stage, while the runner-up qualifies to the Preliminary Round.
Top goalscorers PPlayerTeamGoals1 Hector MancillaToluca132 Andrés MendozaMorelia103 Adolfo BautistaChiapas9 Hugo RodallegaNecaxa5 Christian GiménezPachuca8 Lucas LobosUANL7 Christian BenítezSantos Laguna7 Ariel BogadoAtlas Víctor PirízSan Luis Pablo ZeballosCruz Azul
Source: MedioTiempo
See also List of Transfers of Torneo Clausura 2008 (Mexico)
References
External links Official Website